to be upset school taught my 4 year old about the crucifixion

[littlemslazybones]

It's a CoE school, so I knew that this would come up at some point.

But he's 4!! And he is understandably upset and a little confused that someone would be tortured and nailed to a cross. In the bath, he was pointing at the palm of his hand and saying "and mummy, they just hammered it in, right through here".

And if they are going to do it, shouldn't they attempt to do it in an age appropriate way? My son came home with the impression that the crucifixion was some elaborate terrifying naughty corner. He was telling me how, once nailed to the cross, Jesus decided to be good. (Even as an atheist, I'm baulking at the blasphemy). At the very least, they should allow them to ask questions afterwards, right?

I'm dreading what might come today. My Dad died this time last year and I don't want to spend the Easter hols explaining how people can not come back to life. AIBU to ask the school to be more gentle with this stuff?

It's Easter, he's at a church school and they'll all be hearing the Easter story which is essentially about death. If you're worried, talk to the teacher.

YANBU to think that they could have allowed for questions from the children but YABVU to be upset that they taught them about it in the first place, if you don't like religious teachings in schools then send your DCs to non faith schools.

They'll need to clear up the idea of the cross as a kind of extreme naughty-step!

Maybe explain resurrection as a "new life in heaven" as opposed to coming back?

I agree it should be in an age appropriate way! Poor kid! I can't believe they explained the "how", unless someone asked? He also sounds confused about the "Jesus deciding to be good". That isn't Christian teaching!

YABU.

Sorry - I'd hate this too. Hate it. Loathe it, in fact. Which is why I wouldn't send my child to a religious school.

Seriously - what did you really expect? How do you 'nice up' the crucifixion?

Really, YABU.

...and tell the teacher that the nails wouldn't have gone through the palms (the body weight would have pulled them straight through), but through the wrists... apparently.

Easter, church school, of course they have done it!

Talk to the teacher and tell her your ds was upset by it, children all react in different ways, it is perfectly possible that thye did it in a child friendly way but that your ds heard the nailing part and is worrying about it when another boy in the class might have missed that part completely.

They are acting it out in ds's class. He was jesus yesterday and was put on the cross and then carried into a tomb, he is perfectly happy about it.

I agree with you actually. I've just avoided the same easter story with my own 4yo by taking her in later to her nursery.

I don't want her head filling with such nonsense, particularly the coming back to life part. I wouldn't mind so much if it wasn't presented as fact - more of a "some people believe" stance the way they present Eid and Divali etc

YABVVU. For Christians Easter is the most important time of the year. There's no point in sugar coating it for children, as that would be hiding the key aspect of their faith from them. I have had to teach the Easter story to very young children and field questions about grandparents coming back to life, it's not easy but it's part and parcel of being in a faith school. Why did you send him to a CofE school if you're an atheist?

Catholic schools can be pretty detailed at a young age with kids about stuff like this. Remember years ago being a bit shocked at saints books for young kids and the level of detail about tortures, etc that they suffered. If it is till like that now, then you may have a lot more of this to come.

Perhaps they assume parents have already talked to their kids about the crucifixion so that it isn't a totally new concept?

I do understand your upset. But I also think many parents who are not catholics don't really understand what sending a child to a catholic school can mean.

YANBU to be upset
YABVU to be surprised

Really sorry about your Dad, though. :(

Just curious SodoffBaldrick - how are you going to avoid sending your child to a religious school? Are you going to choose a private school?

It's Easter!!!! It's a CofE school!!!

It's a church school! What did you expect?

yabu

Also, sorry to hear about your Dad OP. First anniversaries are very difficult.

northcountrygirl - why on earth would they take a 'some people believe?' approach at a Church of England school?

People think its being unreasonable to explain the crucifixion to a 4yo? Really? i'm a Christian minister and I'd have more sensitivity than that! Its not about hiding stuff or sugar coating, but age appropriateness. Or do you all explain where babies come from in graphic detail to 4yos when they ask?

And i'd love to know where these "non-religious" schools referred to by other posters can be found. There are certainly none where I live. Even the schools not affiliated with a Church still practice collective worship on a daily basis.

I'm going to avoid it very easily, as I don't live in the UK.

I live in a heathen-filled country, where for the most part we all walk around without God in our souls. :)

Mary - I may be wrong, but I am assuming you are not a catholic? I don't disagree with you, but ime Catholicism does tend to include gory details, even for young children. So maybe not great, but ime not unusual.

Sodoff - you are one lucky lady!

sodoff - was referring to my own daughters nursery. It's not c of e.